Padre

Character of the....Month?  Year?  Century?  I don't know any more:

My Padre

I've been told since I was 5 that I'm the "spitting image"of my Padre and it's still one of my highest complements.
Here's an oldie of us about 10 years ago:

Here's a more recent picture of us:

My Padre is probably the most real person I've ever met.  Believe it or not, I didn't build a love for acting from theatrical people.  People who put on a show aren't real actors.  They're pretenders.  My Dad has the gift of seeing a fake act from 100 miles away.  It's one of the most valuable tools I've attempted to attain over the years.
When I think I'm a hard worker, I observe my Dad and I want to work harder.  I want to do better.  I have yet to meet someone on earth who works harder and sacrifices more for the sake of doing what's right.  You're my number one motivator.  Happy birthday!  Love you Padre!

The Most Random Things

The Most Random Things 

Inspired by:  West Coast, Imagine Dragons

Where are We Going?

I wrote you a note.

I hope that's okay.

I passed it by your desk today.

It's on your porch,

It's in your locker,

I get around,

I'm not a stalker.

Inspired by:  Blaspheme, Tyler Joseph

It's in the dishes 

You forgot to clean,

In the places you read,

But have never seen.

In those memories you have,

That wont go away,

Of something you wish 

You didn't say.

Someone you loved

Who couldn't stay.

That hurt long gone,

But came back today.

Its in your bony,

Dry skinned hands.

Your dreams that stayed thoughts,

But never plans.

In a broken bank,

And a quarter tank,

Your pencil is sharp,

But the page stays blank.

I wrote you a note,

To get your attention,

It's a love note,

If I failed to mention.

I made it myself,

Out random things,

I taped it together,

And tied it with strings.

Nah I'm Good

I took a beautiful,

Broken disaster,

Her mind slows down,

As her tongue works faster

I wrote to that kid,

(That kid is you)

And hid the note in a game of clue,
With instructions on exactly 

Inspired by: Car Radio, Twentyone Pilots 

What to do.

I wrote you a letter,

With a cat and whale,

A sloth with a horn and unicorn tail.

  

It's in your millions 

Of funny socks

When you try to not to cry,

In your long car talks.

I made it with
That papery smell,

Leaves You Empty 

Of a brand new poem,
You're about to tell.

I mixed it with

That random hug,
When the strings of your heart,
Begin to tug.
and you don't know why,
So you sigh and shrug.

I made you a love note,
That when you open,
It sings.
And I made it out of
The most random things.

Inspired by:  Ninja Archer,  Luke Cyrus

Inspired by: Just Like Yesterday, Tyler Joseph 

"I'm not a smart man, but I know what love is."

People post so many things about love and kindness and romance.  They sound so pretty and true.  Like, "Love thy neighbor.  No exceptions."  Or, "You are my happiness."  Or,"Love is love."  Or, "You complete me."  This is the instagram love story, scribbled in beautiful font across a filtered ocean sunset, the silhouettes of hands holding.  I read these on people's walls, social media pages, on t-shirts and tattoos.  Do I disagree with any of these quotes?  No.  I can't.  Why would I?  You should love your neighbor with no exceptions.  Love is love.  Who am I to say if one person completes another person or not?

But I'm confused and I'm sad.  Because I want to see love like an instagram story.  I want to see care like the flowery verses in the kitchen.  I want to see kindness like the t-shirts that tell me to be kind.  I want to see faithfulness like the tattoos that claim that person is faithful.

I wish I saw more kindness then I see quotes about kindness.
For a culture that's obsessed with love and not being judged, we've become unloving and judgmental.

I don't know what you've been told about your identity, who you think you are, who you want to be, what culture has told you you should be, who you're attracted to, who you hate, or where you're from.  But anyone can love.  Not because it's easy but because it's built into the way we're created.
Anyone can complement.  You can choose to walk away from gossip.  You can choose to be kind.  You can choose to not retaliate when you're hurt.  You can let the other person do the talking.  You can give a hug to that lady who's always correcting you.  You can put your pride and opinions and offense on the shelf and just listen.  You don't have to agree with everything everyone says and you don't have to be a people-pleaser.  Love is as simple as saying, "You first."

Don't call yourself open-minded and boycott the first person who's opinion differs from yours.  If you feel your convictions are being challenged, what's a better time to listen?
Don't say you're a loving person.  Just love people.

I'm not a smart man, but I know what love is.

-Forrest Gump

Surround your self with people that challenge how you think.  Not people who nod their heads and act like they agree.  Those people who cut you open just to watch you bleed.  Always be yourself, not the person you pretend to be. 

-NF (Remember)

The world moves for love.  It kneels before it in awe.

-The Village.

Lead me to the cross, where your love poured out.  Bring me to my knees, Lord I lay me down.  Rid me of myself.  I belong to you.

-Hillsong United (Lead Me to the Cross)

If I give all I possess to poor and surrender my body to the flames, but have not love, I gain nothing.  Love is patient.  Love is kind.  It does not envy.  It does not boast.  It is not proud.

-Paul

Just to be with you, I'd anything.  There's no price I would not pay.  Just to be with you, I'd give anything.  I would give my life away.

-Third Day (Love Song)